A new study from the University of Edinburgh has found that long-term use of paracetamol may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke in people who have high blood pressure.
Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is one of the most widely used painkillers in the world. It is often thought to be a safer choice than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen.
NSAIDs are known to raise blood pressure and increase heart risks, so doctors often recommend paracetamol instead. But this new research suggests that paracetamol might also carry similar risks for people with high blood pressure.
Many people take paracetamol regularly to manage long-lasting pain, especially if they want to avoid NSAIDs. But the study shows that people with high blood pressure should be cautious. It’s best to use the smallest dose that works, and only for a short period of time, to lower the risk of side effects.
The research team studied 110 people who had high blood pressure. Half of the group took one gram of paracetamol four times a day. This is a common dose for treating chronic pain. The other half took a placebo, which has no active medicine. The study lasted two weeks.
At the end of the study, the people who took paracetamol had a noticeable increase in their blood pressure compared to those who took the placebo. The rise in blood pressure was similar to what has been seen with NSAIDs. Based on earlier research, this kind of increase in blood pressure can raise the chance of heart disease or stroke by around 20%.
Because of these results, the researchers believe that doctors should rethink giving paracetamol for long-term use, especially for people who already have high blood pressure.
Professor James Dear, one of the researchers, said that paracetamol is the most commonly used medicine in the world. But now we know that it can also raise blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
He said doctors and patients need to think carefully about the pros and cons of using paracetamol over a long time. This is especially important for people who already have heart problems or high blood pressure.
The study was led by Iain MacIntyre and his team and was published in the journal Circulation.
This research adds to our understanding of how common pain medicines can affect heart health. It reminds us that even medicines we think are safe can have side effects, especially when used for a long time. People with high blood pressure should talk to their doctor before using paracetamol regularly.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies that changing blood pressure readings is a hidden sign of heart disease and switching blood pressure drugs may treat the condition better.
For more health information, please read studies about the arm squeeze test: could your blood pressure reading be wrong and bedtime medication more effective for high blood pressure.
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